It’s not the last weekend of high school football in New Jersey, but it is Championship Weekend. Or at least “a” championship weekend.

Twenty public schools will be crowned sectional champions this weekend, but for the first time ever, there will be two more rounds to go after that, as the NJSIAA will play down to group champions in football. It’s a historic season, as statewide champs were never awarded in the sport – unlike all the others – for nearly a century.

Winners this weekend will go on to a round that has been held since 2018, but was only the final round. The former “bowl championships” and “regional championships” now are group semifinals, with North 1 and 2 teams playing at Franklin High School next Saturday and Sunday, and South and Central teams facing off at Cherokee High School on the same days.

After a week break for Thanksgiving – and the Non-Public finals at MetLife Stadium – the first-ever public school Group Finals will be held at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway.

You can read all about how the Group Championships came about here: In historic vote, NJSIAA members decide to play to Group Champs in football, starting in ’22

Read more about the history of football championships in New Jersey here: How far has New Jersey come in HS football? The evolution from declared champs to Group Finals in 104 years

But first things first: getting through this week. And there have been some changes due to the bad weather expected Friday due to the remnants of Hurricane Nicole, which made landfall Thursday in Florida.

Below, we preview each game. Some have yet to be written, so please come back to this page and follow us on Twitter for the very latest all weekend long, including game recaps and postgame audio from all five sectional finals involving Big Central teams.

One more thing: here are the sectional final histories of all five Big Central teams – and their opponents – in the sectional finals this weekend:

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 Final
#6 West Orange (7-3) at #1 Phillipsburg (10-0)
Thursday, 7 pm at Maloney Stadium in Phillipsburg

Coverage: Chris Tsakonas will provide updates on Twitter (follow him here) and a recap and postgame reaction after the game on cjsportsradio.com.

How they got here: Phillipsburg defeated #8 Elizabeth 49-13 in the first round, and #4 Paterson Eastside 37-6 in the semifinals. West Orange won at #3 Watchung Hills 18-10 in the opening round, and at #2 Ridgewood 34-31 in the semifinals

Key Stats:

Phillipsburg sophomore quarterback Jett Genovese has thrown for 1,267 yards and 10 TDs on the season, but more importantly just one pick. He has found four different receivers for at least 10 catches and five for at least 120 yards on the year. Senior runningback Xavier Moore leads the way on the ground with 683 yards and 9 touchdowns. Junior Caleb Rivera paces the defense with five sacks, while senior defensive lineman Hunter Cleaver has a team-leading 10 tackles for loss.

For West Orange, senior QB Amir Stewart has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards, but has been turnover prone, which could be disaster against P’burg, which has logged 13 interceptions on the year, led by the half-dozen that have ended up in the hands of junior defensive back Cameron Bohal alone. Stewart has 11 touchdown passes, but has thrown seven INTs. Senior Jehki Williams is the leading rusher with 629 yards and seven touchdowns, while Saboor Karriem has caught 13 touchdown passes this season and has 862 yards receiving.

Preview: Phillipsburg and West Orange to tussle for North 2, Group 5 title one day earlier

Recap: Early West Orange TDs, turnovers do in top-seed, undefeated Phillipsburg in North 2, Group 5 title game

Past Phillipsburg coverage:

• Phillipsburg a win away from first sectional title since 2018
• “Score early, score often” is the recipe for success as Phillipsburg cruises past Elizabeth for first round playoff win
• Phillipsburg gains last first-place vote, is unanimous No. 1 for first time in Big Central Media Poll
• A little bit from everyone goes a long way for top-ranked Phillipsburg
• The computers agree: Phillipsburg is tops in the Big Central, but on the rest? Not so much
• No. 1 Phillipsburg dominates No. 3 Hillsborough with balanced scoring, stifling defense
• Moore helps lead No. 1 Phillipsburg into battle with No. 3 Hillsborough Friday night
• Phillipsburg wins clash of Big Central titans, “picks off” Sayreville 14-7
• Phillipsburg looking for best of both worlds in ’22: State title, and win over Easton

Bottom Line: Phillipsburg has been dominant all year, even when it looks like they haven’t. Balance on offense and a spirit-crushing defense have been the keys all year long. Don’t expect much different Thursday night.

Central Jersey Group 5 Final
#6 Edison (8-3) at #1 Lenape (6-4)
Friday, 6 pm at Lenape High School in Medford, NJ

Coverage: Live Broadcast with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe. Pregame begins at 5:40 pm. Recap and postgame reaction after the game on cjsportsradio.com.

How they got here: Edison defeated #6 Hillsborough 10-7 in the opening round, then rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat #2 North Brunswick 33-31 in the semifinals. Lenape blanked #8 Freehold Township 40-0 in the first-round, and escaped #5 Atlantic City with a 21-20 win in the semis.

Key Stats: Senior quarterback Matt Yascko is 34 shy of 5,000 passing yards in his scholastic career, with 38 touchdown passes, and almost 1,200 yards rushing. But he about more than just numbers. He is the guts of this Edison team. He also takes care of the football: just two picks against his 13 touchdown passes. Nyekir Eato the top rusher (1,207 yards and 15 scores) while Yascko’s favorite target through the air is Malcolm Stansbury (570 yards, 4 scores), but four different receivers have at least 21 catches. Defensively, a dozen players have logged a total of 19 sacks, and the Eagles have 86 TFLs as a team. They have eight interceptions as a group, as well.

“Just know No. 8” one of the Edison coaches told us at practice Tuesday. That’s Zyaire Fleming, senior running back, who’s rushed for 1,186 yards this year to go along with 14 touchdowns. No one else even comes close for the Indians, so if Edison can curtail his numbers, that would be nice. Trouble is, in eight games played, only St. Augustine was able to hold him under the century mark. Quarterback Jalen Mins is a thousand-yard passer. On defense, senior linemen Angelo Gola and Nagei Ringo have been the most disruptive, combining for 7 1/2 of the team’s 19 sacks on the year.

Previews:

• Edison, Lenape to face off for Central Jersey Group 5 title tonight in Medford
• Sabio brings Edison reliability at one of HS football’s most hit-or-miss positions
• Lucky and Good: “Coach Cal” brings a little superstition to Eagles’ playoff run

Past Edison Coverage:

• Edison-North Brunswick lives up to the hype, as Eagles win a wild one to clinch a finals berth for the first time since 1991
• Edison-North Brunswick rivalry is a friends and family affair as they meet again, this time for a chance at a title
• Edison guts one out at Hillsborough, knocking off defending Central Jersey Group 5 champs on the road
• Edison’s Eato blocks, sacks, runs his way to Week 6 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors
• INSTANT REPLAY: Edison 42, St. Joseph-Metuchen 23
• GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Listen to every score as Edison wins 42-23 at St. Joseph-Metuchen
• Edison rallies for 42-23 win at St. Joseph-Metuchen in a wild one
• Experienced Edison squad looks to make it all down the stretch, starting with night visit to St. Joe’s
• No. 1 North Brunswick pulls one out in a wacky game at No. 9 Edison
• South Jersey broadcaster has high praise for Edison after Battle at the Beach win over Cedar Creek
• Edison wears down Cedar Creek to win finale in the 2022 WJFLCA Battle at the Beach

Bottom Line: Edison can win the close game – with a 3-point and a 2-point win in the playoffs – and can win the blowout, as their regular season wins came by an average of 28 points. In fact, their last two games – int he first round and semifinals of the sectional playoffs – are their only two wins all year to be decided by fewer than 21 points.

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Final
#2 Hillside (9-1) at #1 Old Tappan (9-1)
Saturday, 1 pm at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan High School
(originally scheduled for Friday, 6 pm)

Coverage: Chris Tsakonas will provide live updates during our broadcast of Edison-Lenape, and will have updates on Twitter (follow him here). A recap and postgame aduio will follow after the game on cjsportsradio.com.

How they got here: Hillside has come from behind in both playoff games: an opening round 33-28 win at #7 Parsippany Hills, and a 33-13 win over #3 River Dell in the semifinals, both played at home at Conant Street Park. Old Tappan routed #8 Lincoln 42-8 in the first round, while topping 2021 sectional finalist and #4 Sparta 37-14 in the semifinals.

Key Stats:

Hillside’s two D1 runningbacks get a lot of attention, and deservedly so. Mu Parkman is going to Syracuse, and Kyon Simonson will be headed to Army. Both rushed for 1,000 yards a year ago. This year, Simonson is at 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Parkman has rushed for 536 yards and 6 scores. And they continue to throw the ball, too with senior Caleb Salters racking up his third thousand-yard passing season, and second straight over 1,300 yards, to go along with 13 TDs this year. Three receivers have at least 300 yards catching the ball, including Al-Jamir Davis (402, 4 TDs), Darvens Tunis (363 and 4 scores) and Marcus White (300, 3 TDs) – and all three are juniors. The Cmets can get after it on D, too, with 16 sacks – a quarter of them coming from McNaully Erminal, a junior D-back – and 87 TFLs. Fellow D-Back Marcus White, a junior, has five of the team’s 12 interceptions, with two of the team’s three pick sixes.

Old Tappan’s schedule hasn’t been the most challenging, but it’s also not filled with cupcakes; no winless teams on this year’s slate. That being said, their defense has registered three shutouts, and held six different teams to single digits. They get to the quarterback, with 22 sacks (Dennis Delaney has eight) and 63 TFLs. The Golden knights will throw it just as much as they run it: QB Tommy Caracciolo has completed 100 of 141 passes this year for 1,699 yards and 23 touchdowns, with just 7 picks, while Aidan Heaney leads the ground game with 1,112 yards.

Past Hillside Coverage:

• Simonson, Salters power Hillside comeback over River Dell to send Comets to fourth sectional final in five playoff seasons
• Hillside scores 19 unanswered to top Parsippany Hills in a wild one in North 1, Group 3 first round

Bottom Line: The Comets are well-tested, and have an especially-recent tradition of excellence that can’t be overlooked. Both teams have guys than can put up numbers, but playing in the rugged Big Central is a big plus.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Final
#2 Randolph (9-1) at #1 North Hunterdon (9-1)
Saturday, 12 noon at Singley Field in Annandale

Coverage: Live Broadcast with Mike Pavlichko and North Hunterdon alum Shane Dunn. Pregame begins at 11:40 am. Recap and postgame reaction after the game on cjsportsradio.com.

How they got here: North Hunterdon beat #8 Middletown North 34-7 in the first round, then rallied from 14-0 down in the first quarter to beat #5 Morris Knolls 25-14 in the semifinals. Randolph topped #7 Rahway 42-7 in the first round, and #3 Wayne Valley 31-28 in the semifinals.

Key Stats:

The Lions will get their yards and points. Even in a loss to Phillipsburg, they scored three touchdowns and rushed for over 200 yards; the Stateliners were just a little bit better. Quarterback Luke Martini leads a senior-heavy group on offense with 1,736 yards passing and 17 TDs. But the ground game has pounded out 2,254 yards and 28 scores on the strength of Kente Edwards, who has 12 TDs and 1,138 despite missing two full games and the better part of four overall due to a lower body injury. He was bak last week and almost looked like his old self. Alex Uryniak, who head coach Kevin Kley says could be a starter on any other BCC team, has rushed for 942 yards and 12 TDs. They are the ground game. On defense, Greg Rayl is a beast up front and has seven sacks, while Hunter Vos has six on a team that has recorded an astounding 36 on the season, plus 80 TFLs. That’s got to be one of the best defensive groups in the state.

Randolph has a QB who’s thrown for even more yards than Martini: 1,878, with 23 TDs and nine interceptions. That’s senior Sean Clark, who has found found seven targets for over 100 yards each this season, with James Fusco being his favorite: 28 catches for 466 yards and five TDs, while James Kratochvil has a team-leading six touchdown receptions.

Previews:

• North Hunterdon seeks third state title in school history when Lions meet Randolph for first time ever
• In a world of specialization, multi-sport athletes are why North Hunterdon is playing for another state title
• Randolph is hungry as Rams visit North Hunterdon in North 2, Group 4 title game

Past North Hunterdon Coverage:

• Lions roar as North Hunterdon scores 25 unanswered to come from behind, beat Morris Knolls, and secure bid in North 2, Group 4 final
• Highlight Reel! Listen back to the key plays from North Hunterdon’s North 2, Group 4 comeback win over Morris Knolls
• INSTANT REPLAY: North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Semifinals: (1) North Hunterdon 25, (5) Morris Knolls 14
• North Hunterdon looking to turn tables on Morris Knolls in bid for first finals trip since ’17
• North Hunterdon keeps winning, as Lions cruise past Middletown North in North 2, Group 4 opening round
• No. 4 North Hunterdon rallies twice to win at Montgomery 21-14, claims Liberty Silver Division title
• No. 10 North Hunterdon runs over No. 6 Colonia, handing Patriots first loss
• INSTANT REPLAY: No. 10 North Hunterdon 33, No. 6 Colonia 7
• North Hunterdon “runs” past Hunterdon Central in renewed rivalry
• North Hunterdon’s Martini and Drwal connect big to win “Highlight Reel Play of the Year.” (from 2021)

Bottom Line: It’s not easy to stop the two-headed monster of Edwards and Uryniak, plus the passing game as a change of pace for the Lions.

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 Final
#4 Brearley at (10-0) at #2 Mountain Lakes (9-1)
Saturday, 12 noon Wilkins Field in Mountain Lakes

Coverage: Chris Tsakonas will provide live updates during our broadcast of North Hunterdon-Randolph, and will have updates on Twitter (follow him here). A recap and postgame aduio will follow after the game on cjsportsradio.com.

How they got here: Brearley beat #5 North Arlington 50-16 in the first round at home, then beat #8 Kinnelon 45-14 in the semifinals. Mountain Lakes beat #7 Boonton 35-10 at home in the first round, and #3 Waldwick 27-21 at home in the semifinals.

Key Stats:

Matt Sims, the Brearley senior quarterback, puts up the big numbers in the air and on the ground. He’s passed for 955 yards and 9 touchdowns this season, with just one INT, while rushing for 1,355 yards and 26 scores. Amazing! Brendan Fitzsimmons has a huge chunk of the receiving yards with 740 and 6 TDs.

Preview: Brearley, Mountain Lakes looks like a test of wills for North 1, Group 1 title

Past Brearley Coverage:

• Brearley does what it does best, led by Sims and Fitzsimmons, to punch its ticket to a final
• Brearley rides Sims – surprise, surprise – to 9th straight win, and into North 2, Group 1 semifinals
• Veteran QB Sims powers Brearley to best start since 2018, on the ground and in the air
• Brearley continues playoff push with huge road win, 34-20 over Bound Brook
• Brearley off to hot 2-0 start, looks to keep it going against rival Roselle Park in Week 3

Bottom Line: These teams might as well both be undefeated. Brearley is, Lakes has one loss. The Herd’s only defeat is to Caldwell, which has the state’s longest active winning streak, now at 25 games, going back to the tail end of the 2020 COVID-shortened season. In the end? It starts and ends with Sims. That’s it. If he can do what he does, Brearley will be just fine, and bring home another sectional title.

Public school sectional championship games begin tonight across New Jersey, ending Saturday, and there’s still more to go after that, with the first ever group championships taking place the first weekend of December at Rutgers University.

But there are still champs to crown in 20 public school sections, with five teams from the Big Central looking to bring home some hardware: Phillipsburg, North Hunterdon, Edison, Hillside and Brearley.

We’ve compiled their histories in sectional finals, some longer, some shorter, as well as those of their opponents. Scroll down for a look.

NORTH 2, GROUP 5 – PHILLIPSBURG vs. WEST ORANGE

Phillipsburg (8-7 in finals)  (26^th appearance, 40-17 overall)

• 2018:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #3 Irvington 42-7
  • Lost to North 1, Group 4 champion Wayne Hills 35-21 at MetLife (10-3)
• 2017:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #2 North Hunterdon 21-20 at MetLife (10-2)
• 2015:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Middletown South 35-7 at MetLife (9-3)
• 2014:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, beat #1 Colonia 28-21 in OT at Rutgers (11-1)
• 2013:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #6 Mendham 39-0 at Rutgers (10-2)
• 2009:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, beat #5 Ridge 34-7 at Kean (10-2)
• 2008:  North 2, Group 3:  #4 seed, beat #6 Rahway 20-6 (10-2)
• 2006:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #3 Elizabeth 14-9 (10-2)
• 2005:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #2 Piscataway 15-6 at Rutgers (12-0)
• 2004:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Piscataway 27-26 in OT at Rutgers (10-2)
• 2001:  North 2, Group 4:  #5 seed, beat #2 Montclair, 10-7 (9-3)
• 1979:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Rahway 14-6 (8-3)
• 1978:  North 2, Group 3:  #3 seed, lost to #4 Rahway 23-16 (7-4)
• 1977:  North 2, Group 3:  #2 seed, beat #1 Parsippany 26-0 (10-1)
• 1975:  North 2, Group 3:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Morris Hills 7-0 (7-3-1)

West Orange – first appearance in a sectional final

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 5 – EDISON at LENAPE

Edison (2-0 in finals)  (13^th appearance, 9-10 overall)

• 1991:  Central 4:  #1 seed, beat #3 Middletown South 20-16 (11-0)
• 1976:  Central 4:  #3 seed, beat #1 Woodbridge 19-0 (8-2-1)

Lenape (1-2 in finals) (12th appearances, 10-10 overall)

• 2019:  South 5:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Williamstown 14-10 (10-2)
• 2017:  Beat Rancocas Valley 10-7 at Rowan (11-1)
• 2016:  Lost to Timber Creek 31-10 at Rowan (11-1)

NORTH 2, GROUP 4 – NORTH HUNTERDON vs. RANDOLPH

North Hunterdon (2-1 in finals)  (12^th appearance, 9-9 overall)

• 2017:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, beat #1 Phillipsburg 21-20 at Rutgers (11-1)
  • Lost to Phillipsburg on 10/27 that year 20-7 at Maloney Stadium
• 1978:  Central 3:  #4 seed, lost to #2 JFK 26-6 (8-3)
• 1975:  Central 3:  #1 seed, beat #3 Franklin 27-18 (10-0)

Randolph (7-5 in finals)  (29^th appearance, 28-21 overall)

• 2010:  North 1, Group 4:  #2 seed, beat #4 Montclair 19-0 at New Meadowlands Stadium (11-1)
• 1994:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #3 Montclair 22-12 (10-1)
• 1993:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #3 Union 19-6 (9-1-1)
• 1992:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Union 21-7 (9-2)
• 1991:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Union 24-14 (9-1-1)
• 1990:  North 2, Group 4:  #3 seed, beat #1 Montclair 22-21 (10-0)
• 1989:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, beat #3 Morris Hills 22-7 (11-0)
• 1988:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, beat #2 Nutley 15-12 (11-0)
• 1987:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, beat #2 West Morris 13-14 (11-0)
• 1986:  North 2, Group 3:  #2 seed, beat #4 Summit 12-7 (10-1)
• 1983:  North 2, Group 3:  #3 seed, beat #1 Linden 22-9 (10-1)
• 1982:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, lost to #3 West Morris 10-6 (10-1)

Randolph set NJ state records with 54 consecutive regular season and playoff wins, and a 59-game unbeaten streak from 1986 to 1991 (the streak being snapped in the finals with a loss to Union).  That record has since been broken by Paulsboro, which won 63 straight from 1992 to 1998.

NORTH 1, GROUP 3 – HILLSIDE at OLD TAPPAN

Hillside (4-1 in finals)  (13^th appearance, 17-8 overall)

• 2019:  South 2:  #3 seed, beat #1 West Deptford 14-10 on the road
  • Beat Central 2 champion Cedar Creek 25-3 at Rutgers (12-0)
• 2018:  Central 2:  #1 seed, beat #2 Manasquan 36-10 at home
  • Lost to South 2 champion Haddonfield 17-7 at MetLife (11-1)
• 2017:  Central 2:  #7 seed, beat #1 Point Pleasant Boro 20-13 at Rutgers (9-3)
• 1985:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, beat #1 Madison 13-12 (10-1)
• 1983:  North 2, Group 2:  #1 seed, lost at #1 Butler 16-8

Old Tappan (3-5 in finals)  (21^st appearance, 24-17 overall)

• 2019:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost to #5 Wayne Valley 21-17 (8-4)
• 2018:  North 1, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Wayne Hills 20-13 (8-3)
• 2017:  North 1, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #3 Mount Olive 31-28 at Met Life (12-0)
• 2016:  North 1, Group 3:  #4 seed, lost to #3 River Dell 26-20 (OT) at MetLife (9-3)
• 2015:  North 1, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #7 Wayne Hills 17-0 at MetLife (12-0)
• 2011:  North 1, Group 3:  #7 seed, lost to #1 Wayne Hills 15-12 at MetLife
• 2010:  North 1, Group 3:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Wayne Hills 2-21 at New Meadowlands Stadium (11-1)
• 1985:  North 1, Group 3:  #4 seed, beat #2 Wayne Valley 7-0(8-3)

NORTH 1, GROUP 1 – BREARLEY at MOUNTAIN LAKES

Brearley (5-4 in finals)  (24^th appearance, 22-18 overall)

• 2015:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Hoboken 34-12 at Kean (11-1)
• 2006:  North 2, Group 1:  #2 seed, beat #4 Verona 21-20 (12-0)
• 2005:  Central 1:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Florence, 19-6 (10-2)
• 1991:  North 2, Group 1:  #4 seed, won at #2 Mountain Lakes 14-13 (8-2-1)
• 1988:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed,lost to #2 New Providence 30-14 (10-1)
• 1986:  North 2, Group 1:  #3 seed, beat #1 Roselle Park 28-7 (9-1-1)
• 1985:  North 2, Group 1:  #2 seed, beat #4 Roselle Park 35-6 (10-1-1)
• 1981:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #3 Roselle 17-14 (11-0)
• 1977:  North 2, Group 2:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Glen Ridge 18-12 (9-2)

Mountain Lakes (6-8 in finals, declared in 1974 – no others eligible)  (38^th appearance, 38-30 overall)

• 2021:  North 2 Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Cedar Grove 15-7 (8-3)
• 2014:  North 2, Group 2:  #1 seed, beat #3 Lincoln 36-28 at MetLife  (12-0)
• 2013:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, beat #1 Caldwell 26-6 at Kean (12-0)
• 2012:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Madison 13-0 at Kean (11-1)
• 2010:  North 1, Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Wallington 23-21 at New Meadowlands Stadium (10-1)
• 2009:  North 1, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #3 Butler 28-7 at Giants Stadium (12-0)
• 2008:  North 1, Group 1:  #2 seed, beat #1 Glen Rock 35-21 at Giants Stadium (12-0)
• 2006:  North 1, Group 1:  #6 seed, lost to #1 Bogota at Giants Stadium 28-0 (10-2)
• 2002:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #7 Boonton 23-6 (12-0)
• 1997:  North 2, Group 1:  #3 seed, lost to #1 Butler 30-7 (8-3)
• 1991:  North 2, Group 1:  #2 seed, lost to #4 Brearley 14-13 (10-1)
• 1987:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 New Providence 29-0 (10-1)
• 1976:  North 1, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #2 Clifford Scott 24-14 (Clifford Scott merged with East Orange in 2002 to form East Orange Campus)
• 1975:  North 2, Group 1:  #4 seed, lost to #2 Mendham 19-6 (7-2-2)
• 1974:  North 1, Group 1:  Champion (only team eligible)

“We’re Athletic Directors, not meteorologists.”

That’s what Hillside head coach Barris Grant told Central Jersey Sports Radio when asked if his Comets had been approached by Old Tappan – their opponent in the North 1, Group 1 title game – about moving the contest due to the heavy rain that’s possible Friday night, as the remnants of what will be Hurricane Nicole make their way past – and perhaps through – New Jersey.

Needless to say, the game is not being moved, and the two will square off as scheduled Friday night at 6:00 for the North 1, Group 1 title.

Also staying put is Edison’s game down at Lenape in the Central Jersey Group 5 title tilt. That’s also scheduled for 6 pm.

Decisions on start times and days rest with the home team, the higher seed, though moving it often winds up becoming a collaborative effort between schools, as it did with three other Big Central Conference teams.

The first to announce they were moving their game was Phillipsburg. That word came Thursday morning, when the Stateliners moved their North 2, Group 4 title game up a day. They will now face West Orange at the same time, just a day earlier, 7 pm Thursday at Maloney Stadium off Route 22.

Two other games, however, moved to Saturday. Brearley and Mountain Lakes will play for the North 1, Group 1 title at noon, as will North Hunterdon and Randolph for the North 2, Group 4 title.

The Friday forecast as of 5 pm Wednesday from The Weather Channel calls for evening thunderstorms, overcast later in the overnight hours with occasional rain, and the potential for heavy rainfall, with winds out of the south-southwest at 10-20 miles per hour across much of the state. There could be a little rain Thursday, and Saturday is expected to be in the mid-60s and partly to mostly cloudy.

Central Jersey Sports Radio will have postgame reaction from the Phillipsburg-West Orange game on our website Thursday night, and you can follow reporter Chris Tsakonas for live updates on Twitter by clicking here.

Live coverage begins Friday at approximately 5:40 pm in Medford, where Edison will visit Lenape. We’ll have live-play-by-play of that game at 6, with Chris Tsakonas providing live updates of Hillside-Old Tappan. Postgame reaction will follow on cjsportsradio.com.

Saturday, we’ll have two more games, with live coverage of North Hunterdon-Ramapo starting at approximately 11:40 am. Kickoff will be at noon, and Chris Tsakonas will have live updates of Brearley-Mountain Lakes. Again, postgame reaction will follow on cjsportsradio.com.

Click here to listen live to both Friday and Saturday night broadcasts.

The inaugural season of the fledgling Big Central Conference came at just the wrong time.

With so much excitement for the start of the new league following the 2019 season, the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to that. The NJSIAA took a calculated gamble and allowed fall sports to take place, but limited the season to six weeks plus two “postseason” weeks of pod play, or whatever each league decided to do.

That made 2021’s return to normalcy the real debut of the league, with a full schedule and postseason. And Cranford had a great year, winning a sectional title, with Hillsborough going all the way, winning Central Jersey Group 5 and then the South 5 regional championship, becoming the first Somerset County school to go 13-0.

Those were the only two teams to qualify for sectional title games last year, but in 2022, the league has at least five chances this Friday, and those are just the public schools.

In the parochial realm, St. Joseph-Metuchen was eliminated from the Non-Public Group A playoffs Saturday with a loss to Delbarton, but St. Thomas Aquinas has yet to start its postseason in Group B. The 5th-seeded Trojans visit 4th-seeded Holy Spirit of Absecon next Friday night.

That same night, five Big Central public schools will vie for sectional titles, and try to make it to the first-ever “official” group semifinals the following week: Phillipsburg, Edison, North Hunterdon, Hillside and Brearley.

We thought this weekend that with nine teams in action, we’d get at least four. We were guaranteed one, with North Brunswick and Edison facing each other. We got five. And after a somewhat disappointing opening round, though several games could have gone either way, the BCC has solid representation in the playoffs.

And all of them have a legit shot to bring home some hardware. To wit:

“Will anyone challenge Phillipsburg?” That’s the question I keep hearing around the league, wherever I go. Someone will. But will they beat them? That’s the million dollar question. They have the horses – a lot of them – and I don’t see them getting beat.

North Hunterdon looked in dire straits after a long drive, onside kick list and a short TD drive put them down 14-0 late in the first against Morris Knolls’ ball control offense. And all the Lions did was shut the Golden Eagles down the rest of the way and score 25 unanswered over the next 36 minutes of football to advance to the finals.

The other question I hear: “Is North Hunterdon that good?”

Yes, they are.

Those are your two top seeds. Discount them at your own peril.

I still don’t know what to make of Lenape, whether Atlantic City – which pushed them to the brink Friday – is that good, or what two of Lenape’s losses to St. Augustine and St. Joe’s-Hammonton tell us, but can you ever count out a team like Edison when they did what they did Friday night?

Just as a reminder, down 31-17, they scored a touchdown, recovered an inside kick, scored again, went for two for the win, missed, recovered another onside kick, and won it on a field goal. Selbin Sabio is a tremendous asset, and Matt Yascko has major onions.

Hillside has trailed in both its playoff games, and come back to win with multiple unanswered scores. With two D1 commits, that’s what they do. And they had three picks, including one for a score, Saturday against River Dell in the semis. They’re like Edison, just not as dramatic.

And Brearley has been a beast with Matt Sims all year long. Throw in a guy like Brendan Fitzsimmons, and as long as Sims keeps doing what he does, the unbeaten Bears can bring home another title.

Here’s a look at the Championship Weekend schedule:

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Final:
#6 West Orange at #1 Phllipsburg, Friday at 7 pm

Central Jersey Group 5 Final:
#6 Edison at #1 Lenape, Friday at 7 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Final:
#2 Randolph at #1 North Hunterdon, Friday at 7 pm (LIVE on CJSR)

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Final:
#2 Hillside at #1 Old Tappan, Friday at 6 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Final:
#4 Beearley at #2 Mountain Lakes, Friday at 7 pm

Next week will be the Group Semifinals. North 1 and North 2 winners will play at Franklin High School, while South winners will play at Cherokee High School. Games will be Saturday and Sunday, with dates and times to be determined upon completion of the finals.

The playoffs will take a week off for Thanksgiving (though Non-Public finals will be held at MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands on Black Friday) with the first-ever Group Finals in football to be played at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4.